HESI A2 Version 2 Exam 2026/2027 | 240+
Questions with Detailed Rationales | Elsevier
Evolve & ATI Standards | All 8 Core Sections |
Already Graded A+
Section 1: Reading Comprehension (Questions 1-40)
1. Read the passage and answer the question: "The nurse carefully measured the medication,
double-checked the dosage, and administered it to the patient. The patient's vital signs improved
within 30 minutes." What is the main idea of this passage?
A) The nurse measured medication
B) The nurse was careful and the patient improved
C) The patient's vital signs improved
D) Medication should be measured carefully
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The passage describes the nurse's careful actions and the patient's improvement. The main idea
is that careful nursing care led to patient improvement .
2. Read the passage and answer the question: "Hypertension is a common condition that affects
millions of people worldwide. It is often called the 'silent killer' because it has no symptoms.
Regular blood pressure screening is essential for early detection." According to the passage, why
is hypertension called the "silent killer"?
A) Because it causes sudden death
B) Because it has no symptoms
C) Because it affects millions of people
, D) Because it is not detectable
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The passage states that hypertension is called the "silent killer" because it has no symptoms .
3. Read the passage: "The patient was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The doctor recommended
lifestyle changes, including diet modification and exercise. The patient was also prescribed
metformin." Which of the following are recommended treatments based on the passage? (Select all
that apply)
A) Diet modification
B) Exercise
C) Metformin
D) Insulin
E) Surgery
Correct Answers: A, B, C
Rationale: The passage mentions diet modification (A), exercise (B), and metformin (C). Insulin (D) and
surgery (E) are not mentioned .
4. Read the passage and answer the question: "The nurse assessed the patient's pain level using a
0-10 pain scale. The patient rated their pain as 7 out of 10. The nurse administered morphine 2 mg
IV." What did the nurse do after assessing the pain?
A) Called the doctor
B) Administered morphine
C) Asked the patient to rate the pain
D) Documented the pain score
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: After assessing the pain, the nurse administered morphine 2 mg IV .
, 5. Read the passage and answer the question: "The medication should be taken with food to reduce
the risk of stomach upset. It should be taken at the same time each day for best results. Do not
crush or chew the tablet." What should the patient avoid doing with the tablet?
A) Taking it with food
B) Taking it at the same time each day
C) Crushing or chewing it
D) Taking it with water
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The passage states: "Do not crush or chew the tablet" .
6. Which of the following is an example of a primary source for a research paper on the history of
vaccination?
A) A 2023 textbook chapter on the development of vaccines
B) A peer-reviewed journal article analyzing Edward Jenner's work
C) Edward Jenner's original 1796 notes on smallpox inoculation
D) A Wikipedia entry about the smallpox vaccine
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Primary sources are original materials created at the time of the event. Jenner's original notes
are a primary source; the others are secondary sources that interpret or summarize primary information .
7. Read the sentence: "The patient's oxygen saturation dropped to 82%, so the nurse immediately
applied supplemental oxygen." The relationship between the two clauses is:
A) Chronological
B) Cause and effect
C) Compare and contrast
D) Problem and solution
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The drop in oxygen saturation (cause) led to the application of oxygen (effect). This is a direct
cause-and-effect relationship .
, 8. The prefix "brady-" in the term "bradycardia" means:
A) Fast
B) Slow
C) Heart
D) Irregular
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: "Brady-" means slow. Bradycardia is a slow heart rate (typically under 60 bpm in adults) .
9. Which of the following statements is an opinion rather than a fact?
A) The normal adult body temperature is approximately 98.6°F (37°C)
B) Influenza is caused by a virus
C) Handwashing is the most important infection control practice
D) The heart has four chambers
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: While handwashing is critically important, calling it "the most important" is a subjective claim.
The other options are verifiable facts .
10. Read the passage: "The wound was deep. Blood welled up slowly, dark red. The nurse pressed
a sterile gauze pad firmly against the injury." The author's tone is most accurately described as:
A) Cheerful
B) Detached and clinical
C) Alarming and panicked
D) Humorous
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The description is objective, factual, and unemotional — characteristic of clinical or medical
writing .
Questions with Detailed Rationales | Elsevier
Evolve & ATI Standards | All 8 Core Sections |
Already Graded A+
Section 1: Reading Comprehension (Questions 1-40)
1. Read the passage and answer the question: "The nurse carefully measured the medication,
double-checked the dosage, and administered it to the patient. The patient's vital signs improved
within 30 minutes." What is the main idea of this passage?
A) The nurse measured medication
B) The nurse was careful and the patient improved
C) The patient's vital signs improved
D) Medication should be measured carefully
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The passage describes the nurse's careful actions and the patient's improvement. The main idea
is that careful nursing care led to patient improvement .
2. Read the passage and answer the question: "Hypertension is a common condition that affects
millions of people worldwide. It is often called the 'silent killer' because it has no symptoms.
Regular blood pressure screening is essential for early detection." According to the passage, why
is hypertension called the "silent killer"?
A) Because it causes sudden death
B) Because it has no symptoms
C) Because it affects millions of people
, D) Because it is not detectable
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The passage states that hypertension is called the "silent killer" because it has no symptoms .
3. Read the passage: "The patient was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The doctor recommended
lifestyle changes, including diet modification and exercise. The patient was also prescribed
metformin." Which of the following are recommended treatments based on the passage? (Select all
that apply)
A) Diet modification
B) Exercise
C) Metformin
D) Insulin
E) Surgery
Correct Answers: A, B, C
Rationale: The passage mentions diet modification (A), exercise (B), and metformin (C). Insulin (D) and
surgery (E) are not mentioned .
4. Read the passage and answer the question: "The nurse assessed the patient's pain level using a
0-10 pain scale. The patient rated their pain as 7 out of 10. The nurse administered morphine 2 mg
IV." What did the nurse do after assessing the pain?
A) Called the doctor
B) Administered morphine
C) Asked the patient to rate the pain
D) Documented the pain score
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: After assessing the pain, the nurse administered morphine 2 mg IV .
, 5. Read the passage and answer the question: "The medication should be taken with food to reduce
the risk of stomach upset. It should be taken at the same time each day for best results. Do not
crush or chew the tablet." What should the patient avoid doing with the tablet?
A) Taking it with food
B) Taking it at the same time each day
C) Crushing or chewing it
D) Taking it with water
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The passage states: "Do not crush or chew the tablet" .
6. Which of the following is an example of a primary source for a research paper on the history of
vaccination?
A) A 2023 textbook chapter on the development of vaccines
B) A peer-reviewed journal article analyzing Edward Jenner's work
C) Edward Jenner's original 1796 notes on smallpox inoculation
D) A Wikipedia entry about the smallpox vaccine
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Primary sources are original materials created at the time of the event. Jenner's original notes
are a primary source; the others are secondary sources that interpret or summarize primary information .
7. Read the sentence: "The patient's oxygen saturation dropped to 82%, so the nurse immediately
applied supplemental oxygen." The relationship between the two clauses is:
A) Chronological
B) Cause and effect
C) Compare and contrast
D) Problem and solution
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The drop in oxygen saturation (cause) led to the application of oxygen (effect). This is a direct
cause-and-effect relationship .
, 8. The prefix "brady-" in the term "bradycardia" means:
A) Fast
B) Slow
C) Heart
D) Irregular
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: "Brady-" means slow. Bradycardia is a slow heart rate (typically under 60 bpm in adults) .
9. Which of the following statements is an opinion rather than a fact?
A) The normal adult body temperature is approximately 98.6°F (37°C)
B) Influenza is caused by a virus
C) Handwashing is the most important infection control practice
D) The heart has four chambers
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: While handwashing is critically important, calling it "the most important" is a subjective claim.
The other options are verifiable facts .
10. Read the passage: "The wound was deep. Blood welled up slowly, dark red. The nurse pressed
a sterile gauze pad firmly against the injury." The author's tone is most accurately described as:
A) Cheerful
B) Detached and clinical
C) Alarming and panicked
D) Humorous
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The description is objective, factual, and unemotional — characteristic of clinical or medical
writing .
